Coin controlled mechanism



July 20, 1937- w. VAN GUILDr-:R ET A1. v 2,087,710

COIN CONTROLLED MECHANI SM Filed March 9, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 'l July20, 1937. M w VAN GUILDER Er A1. 087,710

COIN COTROLLED MEHANI SM Filed Maron 9, 193e 4 sheets-sheet 2y July 20,1937. w. VAN GUILDER ET 5|. 2,087,710

COIN GONTROLLED MECHANI SM Filed March 9, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 gw. VANGUILDER ET AL 2,087,710

July. 20,' 1937.

' COIN GONTROLLED MECHANISM Filed March 9, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 4Patented July 20, 1937 UNITED STATE ATENT oFFIcE 2,087,710 K COINoonrnormsn MECHANISM Walter Van Guilders, Oak Park, and Karl H.

Sommermeyer, Evanston, Ill.,

assignorsV to G-M Laboratories, Inc., Chicago, Ill., a corporaticn ofIllinois Application March 9,

S Claims.

which are adapted to operate only when coins are inserted the-rein.

The objects of the present invention include the provision of .a new andsimplied mechanism for detecting coins and for controlling the operationof other apparatus in accordance with the presence or absence of coins.The objects also include the provision of a simple but rugged mechanismof the type indicated which may be manufactured at a low cost.

The coin apparatus of our present invention is adapted to be employed inan amusement and/or Vending machine such as that shown and described inthe co-pending application of Archie J. McMaster, Ser. No. 64,235, filedFeb. 17, 1936. It is further adapted to be employed with the mechanismsfor operating amusement devices which are shown and described in thecci-pending 5 application of Walter Van Guilder, Serial No.

62,164, led February 3, 1936, and the application of Karl H.Sommermeyer, Serial No. 62,165, led February 3, 1936.

These and other objects and advantages of our present invention willbecome apparent as the description proceeds.

In order better to acquaint those skilled in the art with the teachingsand practice of our present invention, we now shall describe .a specificembodiment thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawingswhich form a part o f this specification and in which:

Fig. 1 is a general View in perspective of the interior mechanism of anamusement machine embodying our present invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevational sectional view of a part of the apparatus ofFig. l looking towards the right in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation through the coin mechanism of theapparatus of Fig. 1. It is taken looking towards the left in Fig. 1, andis a section taken along the line 3 3 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 4 is another section similar to the section of Fig. 3 but taken soas to show a different part of the apparatus. It is taken along the line4 4 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 5 is a view like Fig. 4, b-ut showing the apparatus in a differentoperated position.

Fig. 6 is a section taken along the line 6 6 of Fig. 3 and showing theapparatus in the same 1936, Serial N0. 67,842

operated position as that in which it is shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a section taken along' the line 'I l of Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a section taken along the line 8 8 of Fig. 6.

Referring particularly to Fig. 2, and, also, to Fig. 1, a wheel IQ isadapted to be spun and brought to a random but registered stop so as tobring one of a series of characters which constitute a design on theperiphery of the wheel ID intov register with an index (not shown),located in a viewing aperture I2 (shownin dotted lines), in a panel I4.The mechanismior driving and stopping the wheel Ill ismore completelyIshown and described in the co-pending applications of Walter Van Guilderand Karl H. Sommermeyer already referred to.

The entire mechanism is mounted on an end plate I6 shown in Fig. 1 andthe panel I4 which is secured thereto. The end plate I6 constitutes partof an enclosing case which is indicated generally by the referencenumeral 35.v A shaft 2 I, journaledin the end plate I6, is adapted to berotated in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2 by means ofa handle (not shown), on the outside of the end plate I6, that is, tothe left of the plate i6 as viewed in Fig. 1. The shaft 2l carries acrank arm 22 which in turn carries a spreader 23 which is pivotedthereto by means of a pin 24. The wheel I is carried on a shaft 26 andits driving mechanism includes an over-running clutch indicated by thereference numeral?! (not fully shown). The driving member of theover-running clutch includes the arm 28 which has a spreader 29 pivotedthereto at a pin 30. The head of the pin 3i) strikes against a pair ofbosses 33 and 34 located on the end plate I E to act as stops for thearm. 28.

The crank army 22 in the position shown in Fig. 2 stops against the hubof the arm 28 and in another position thereof stops against theincl-osing case 35. A pair of springs 31 and 38` are tensioned by thespreaders 23 and 29. The points of fastening of the springs 3I and 38 tothe spreader 23 do not lie on a line which passes through the center ofthe pin 24 but rather lies on a line which passes between the pin 24 andthe pin 36. Similarly, the points of fastening of these same springs tothe spreader 29 lie on aline which, also, passes betweenrthe centers ofthe pins 24 and 36. The use of the two springs 31 and 38 and theparticular arrangement of their points of fastening to the spreaders 23and 2,9, accomplishes two things: First, it permits theV line of actionof the springs, which line passes through the centers of the pins 24 and30, to cross the axis of the shaft 2B without requiring that that shaftbe interrupted to permit a spring to pass therethrough; and second, itcauses the spreaders 23 and 28 to always tend to assume positions whichare substantially perpendicular to the line of action of the springsbetween the pins 24 and 38. The two spreaders 23 and 29 and the springs3l and 38 constitute a spring assembly or spring means acting betweenthe pins 24 and 30. Therefore, pins 24 and 38 constitute springfastening points of the arms 22 and 28.

The upper end of the spreader 29 has a notch 38 which normally engages alatch piece il which serves to prevent actuation of the Wheel l0 in amanner which will be described presently. The two arms 22 and 2Gtogether with the springs 31 and 38, the spreaders 23 and 29 and thevarious stops for the two arms, constitute a snap mechanism which inturn constitutes part of the driving mechanism for the wheel iii. Thearm 22 is the actuator arm of the snap mechanism and the arm 28 is thefollower arm thereof.

Assuming that the latch piece Si is in such a position that it does notengage the notch 39 of the spreader 28, the wheel i8 may be set intomotion as follows:

Then the shaft 2l is rotated in the counterclockwise direction as viewedin Fig. 2 by means of the handle already mentioned, the arm 22 carriesthe pin 28 down until the line between the centers of the pins 28 and 38crosses the axis of the shaft 28. Thereupon the arm 2S rotates with asnap action in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2 until it stopsagainst the boss 33. This rotates the driving member of the over-runningclutch 2 in that direction in which it drives the wheel l0. When the arm28 stops against the boss 3i), the clutch 2l disengages the wheel I8 sothat the wheel spins freely., The wheel subsequently and independentlyof any further operation of the arms 22 and 28, comes to a registeredstop. The mechanism for bringing this wheel to a stop is more fullydescribed in my copending application already referred to. It comprisesa pair of centrifugal weights 53 and 48 shown in Figure l which carry adog into and out of engagement with the notches of a wheel 45. The wheel85 is fixed to the shaft 25 so as to be stationary. The notches of thewheel 45 provide a plurality of registered portions and the centrifugalweights and the dog operated thereby are adapted to stop the wheel inone of these positions selected at random and to .register it in thatposition.

The operation of the arms 22 and 28 which set the Wheel l0 into rotationhas not permitted the line of action of the springs 3l and 38 to crossthe ams of the shaft 2i. Consequently, the springs 3l and 38 still tendto rotate the arm 22 ina clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2 aboutits shaft 2l. Therefore, the release of the handle permits the arm 22 toreturn to the position in which it is shown in Fig. 2 so as to cause theline of action between the pins 24 and 38 again to cross the axis of theshaft 28 so that the arm 28 snaps back to its normal position in whichit is shown in Fig. 2 where it stops against the boss 34. The returnmotion of the arm 28 does not drive the wheel I8.

The inclosing case .35 carries a casting 5| (shown in Figs. 23, 6, and7), having a hollow therein which is adapted to receive a coin or thelike. An opening in the bottom of the casting 5| is adapted to permitthe coin to fall therefrom through another opening 52 in the panel it sothat it enters a channel formed by the panel l2 and a channel piece 55.Referring to Figs. 3, 5, 6, '7, and 8, the channel just referred tocontains a pair of slides 5l and 58 which are adapted to handle anddetect the coin. The slide 5l carries a pin 6I which extends through anopening in the channel piece 55. This pin 6l engages a slotted lever 62(seen in Fig. l), and is held by a spring 63 in a normal position at theextreme right of its travel as viewed in Fig. l and at the extreme leftof its travel as viewed in Figs. 6 and 7. The slide 5l as it is seen inFig. 6 carries at its extreme left end, a projection 65 on the frontsurface thereof which is adapted when the slide 5l moves to the right,to sweepthrough the space into which the coin falls from the aperture52. The slide 58 is located forward of the slide 5l as viewed in Fig. 6so as to be in alignment with the projection 65 ofthe slide 5l' and inalignment with the coin. The end of the slide 58 is cut off at an angleso as to adapt it to engage a coin in the channel and direct the samedownward.

The slide 58 is off-set at G8 at its extreme right end as best may beseen .in Fig. 8. The oi`rset portion 63 engages the end of the channelpiece 55 to act as a stop to limit the motion of the slide 58 toward theleft as seen in Fig. 8 and, also, en-

gages a spring 68 which holds the slide 58 in itsy A normal position atthe extreme left of its travel as Viewed in Figs. 6, 7, and 8. Thisolf-set portion of the slide 58, also, carries the latch piece 4lalready mentioned in connection with the description of the snapmechanism for driving the wheel li). The operation of this latch will bedescribed presently.

In the bottom of the channel piece 55 and offset therein to the right ofthe aperture 52 as seen in Figs. 6 and '7 is another aperture openinginto a coin trap 'il which depends from the channel containing theslides 5l' and 58. The dimensions of the slides 5l and 58 and thepositions of their stops are so arranged that if a coin is in positionbetween the projection 65 of the slide 5i and the end of the slide 58,the motion of the slide 5l towards the right (Figs. 6, 7, and 8) willdrive the coin against the left end of the slide 58 so as to drive theslide 58 towards the right. As the slide 58 moves toward the right itassumes the position shown in Fig. 7 so that the latch piece 4l slidesout of the notch 32 of the spreader and at about the same time orslightly thereafter, ejects the coin downward into the coin trap liwhere it stops against a pin 'i2 which extends into :A

the coin trap ll. In driving the coin down into the coin trap 1|, theslide 58 executes a return motion towards the left under force of itsspring E9. A fuller description of the mode of opera- `tion of the latchmechanism consisting of the latch piece 4| and the spreader 28 of thesnap mechanism will appear presently.

vDepending from the coin trap ll is a pivoted chute 15 which is adapted,when in the position in which it is shown in Fig. 3, to guide the coininto position opposite an opening l@ in the panel i4 Where it issupported on projections 'i8 and where it is exposed to the view of theplayer of the machine. The center of gravity of the chute "i5 is solocated that it naturally hangs open in the position in which it isshown in Fig. If desired a spring can be employed for holding the chute'I5 away from the panel I4. In addition, the weight of a coin lying inthe chute 'l5 in front of the opening l5 in the panel lll, also, willtend to cause the chute 15 to swing open. In the open position in whichit is shown inFig. '4, the chute 15 is adapted to discharge the cointherefrom by dropping it into a coin box 19.

As best may be seen in Fig. 1, the shaft 2| carries an arm 82, which inturncarries a. link 83 pivoted thereto. its slot engages a pin of alever 84. The lever 84 is normally held up in the position in which itis shown in Fig. 1 by means ofa spring |35. The lever 84 carries a cam86 which is adapted to engage the lever 52 to drive it'towards the leftas viewed in Fig. 1 so as to drive the slide 51 in the manner alreadydescribed. The cam 86, also,

engages an arm 88 of the chute 15 so that ,the

arm 84, when it is in its normal position as shown in Fig. l and as,also shown in Fig. 3, closes the chute 15. Secured to the panel i4 is ashaft 90 having an `arm 9| which preferably is formed integrallytherewith.v The arm 9| is curved and depends from the shaft 99 so as toengage a roller 92 carried by the pin 30 of the arm 28 of the snapmechanism. A spring 93 tends to rotate the shaft 99 in a clockwisedirection as viewed in Fig. 2 and in a counter-clockwise direction asviewed in Figs. 3, 4, and 5 so as to hold the arm 9| firmly inengagement with the roller 92. The curved portion of the arm 9| is soconfigured that the arm 9| is rotated against the force of the spring 93in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2 when the arm 28moves from the position in which it is shown in Fig. 2 down into theposition in which it stops against the boss 33 as shown in dotted linesin Fig. 5. A catch 96 carried by the arm 99 is adapted to engage the arm62 so as to block its motion when the apparatus assumes the position inwhich it is shown in Fig. 5. This operation will be explained presently.The shaft 99, also, carries an arm 91 which in turn carries the pin 12.When the apparatus is in the position of Fig. 5, the pin 12 is Withdrawnfrom the coin trap 1| so as to leave a passage therethroughunobstructed. The arm 91, also, engages an arm 98 of the coin trap 15 soas to hold the coin chute closed when the apparatus is in the positionin which it is shown in Fig. 5.

The latch piece 4| has a small projection IUI thereon which is adaptedunder certain conditions to engage the spreader 29 and retain it in aposition rotated counter-clockwise as viewed in Fig. 2 from the positionin which it is shown in Fig. 2. As was previously pointed out, thearrangement of the fastening points of the springs 31 and 38 on thespreaders 23 and 29 is such as to cause the spreaders 23 and 29 alwaysto tend to assume positions in which they lie substantiallyperpendicular to the line between the pins 24 and 39. Therefore, whenthe arm 22 carries the pin 2i down, the spreaders 23 and 29 tend torotate counter-clockwise as viewed in Fig. 2 but this rotation isprevented by the engagement of the notch 39 of the spreader 29 with theend of the latch piece 4|. Assume that the pin 24 moves downwards withthe arm 22 but not -far enough to cause a line between the pins 24 and3l! to cross the axis of the shaft 26, and that then the latch piece 4|slips out of the notch 39 of the spreader 29. The latch piece will leavethe notch 39 by moving toward the right as seen in Figs. 6 and '1. Assoon as the latch piece disengages the spreader 29 in this manner, thetwo spreaders 23 and 29 immediately rotate in a counter-clockwisedirection as seen in Fig. 2 to assume positions substantiallyperpendicular to the line Vbetween the The link 83 is kslotted 'and pins24 and 3U, thereafter if the latch piece 4| again moves to the left asviewed in Figs. 6 and 7 the projection |0| of the latch piece 4| willproject past Ythe spreader 29 to the right thereof vent the spreader 29from assuming a position.

such that the latch piece 4| could re-enter the notch 39. With theapparatus in this condition, the operation of the arm 28 is no longerlatched or locked by the latch piece 4| and the snap mechanism may beoperated-to spin the wheel l. Moving the arm 22 toits lowermost positioncauses the arm 28 to snap down to its lowermost position andV in sodoing to Vspin the wheel l in the manner'already described.

When the arm 22 again is permitted to rise the spreaders 23 and 29rotate so that they assume positions in which they extend upwards andtowards the right in Fig. 2. In this condition, the arm 22 is in theposition in which it is shown in Fig. 2 but the arm 28 is in its lowerposition stopping against the boss 33. As the arm 28 snaps up to itsnormal position, the spreader 29 tends to keep itself in appositionperpendicular to the 9 line through the pins 24 "and 3|) and in so doingrotates in a counter-clockwise direction. Assuming that the latch piece4| lies in its normal position, with the slide 58 which carries it inVits eX- treme left position as shown in Fig. 6, the left edge of thespreader 29 as viewed in Fig. 2 will strike against the end Aof thelatch piece 4| and as the arm 28 stops against the boss 34, the notch 39of the spreader 29 fits itself over the end of the latch piece 4| so asto return the apparatus tothe condition in which it is shown in Fig. 2.

The operation of the complete apparatus is as follows: Assume that theapparatus is all in its normal condition with the various parts of themachine in the position in which they are shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 6, and8. A coin may be inserted in the hollow of the casting from which itwill drop into the position in which it isY shown in Fig. 6. Then thehand lever already mentioned (but not shown) may be actuated to rotatethe shaft 2| in the counter-clockwise direction as viewed inrFig. 2.This moves both of the levers .22 and 82 downwards.

As the lever .82 moves downward, the link 83 takes up the slack providedby its slot and then actuates the lever 84;Y The cam 88 of the lever 84moves awayfrom the arm 88 of the chute so as to open the same (permit ittofall away from the panel I4) and permit any coin therein `todrop intothe coin box 19. Continued motion of the lever 82 causes the lever 84and its cam 86 to drive the lever 62 which in turn drives the slide 51.The slide 51 movesto the right as seen in Figs. 6, '7, and 8 and becauseof the presence of the coin, also drives the slide 58 toward the rightto disengage the latch piece 4i from the slot 39 in the spreader29 ofthe snap mechanism. Subsequently, or at about the same time,

the coin comes into register with the opening between the channelcontaining the slides 51 and 58 and the coin trap 1| so that it isejected into the trap 1| 'where it rests on the pin 12. During theentire motion of the shaft 2i and the lever 82, the lever 22 has beencausing 39 to lengthen, and the line of action of the springs (the linethrough the center of the pins 24 and 30) has been approaching the axisof shaft 26. Subsequent to the dischargeof the coin into the trap 1l theline of action between the pins 24 and 38 crosses the axis of shaft 26and the arm 28 of the snap mechanism snaps down to its lower positionwhere it stops against the boss 34 and in so doing sets the wheel I8into motion in the manner already described.

The arm 28 in moving to its lower position also has moved the arm 9| tothe right as seen in Fig. 2 so as to perform the following operations:

(1) The catch 96 has been brought into position to block the lever 62 soas to prevent the return of the slide 51 to its normal position in whichit could receive another coin.

(2) The arm 81 has withdrawn the pin 12 from the coin trap 1l, and in sodoing has engaged the arm 98 o-f the chute 15 to close the same. Thishas permitted the coin to drop into the chute 15 in position where itmay be viewed easily in the opening 18.

The wheel Il! which has been set into motion by the snap mechanism spinsfreely and eventually comes to a random stop with the dog car-A ried bythev weights 43 and 44 seated in one of the notches of the notched wheel45. This brings one of the characters of the design on the periphery ofthe wheel lll squarely into register with the index in the opening l2 toindicate the random selection of the machine. This takes placeautomatically regardless of whether or not the player permits the handleto return to its normal position, and the stopping of the wheel I8 maytake place either before or after the handle is permitted to return. Asthe player permits the handle to return to its normal position, thelever 84 moves under force of its spring 85 back to its normal positionso that the cam 86 engages the arm 88 of the chute 15 to hold it in itsclosed position. The catch 96 continues to hold the lever 82 and theslide 51 in their extreme right position as viewed in Figs. 6, '1, and 8(extreme left position as viewed in Fig. 1). When the handle hassubstantially completed its return motion, the line of action of thesprings 31 and 38 between the pins 24 and 38 again crossesv the axis ofthe shaft 26 so that the arm 28 snaps back to its normal or upperposition where it stops against the boss 34. In so doing it permits thearm 9! to return to its normal position in which it is shown in Fig. 1.This rotates the shaft 98 to accomplish the following:

(l) The catch 86 releases the arm 62 so that the slide 51 snaps backunder the force of its spring 82 to its normal position in which it isshown in Figs. 6 and 8.

(2) The arm 91 moves the pin 12 into the coin trap 9i. While the arm 91moves away from the arm 88 of the chute 15, the chuteI does not openbecause it is held by the cam 86 of the arm 84.

The action of the arm 28 of the snap mechanism in snapping to its normalor upper position (in which it is shown in Fig. 2) does not rotate thewheel i8 because the overrunning clutch 21 does not permit the arm 28 todrive the Wheel in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2.The handle now may be operated through a considerable portion of itsstroke so as to actuate the lever 84 so that the cam 86 releases the arm98 to open the chute 15 and drop the coin from its position behind theopening 16 in the panel I4 into the coin box 19. This operation of thehandle does not cause the wheel to spin because since no coin has beeninserted into the space between the end of the slide 58 and theprojection 65 on the slide 51, the latch piece 4| will continue toengage the notchV 59 in the spreader 29 so as to prevent the operationof the arm 28 in the manner already described. l

It thus is seen that we have provided a simple mechanism for detectingcoins for the purpose of controlling the operation of machines of theclass described, which mechanism so controls and handles the coin itselfas to accomplish the following: First, it prevents operation of themachine when no coin is inserted therein; second, it permits operationof the machine in response to the insertion of each coin regardless ofthe manner in which the player may manipulate the operating handle;third, it takes each coin and exhibits it to view in response to thatparticular operation of the machine which that particular coin hascontrolled; fourth, it prevents coins from being inserted and moved tothe exhibiting position without causing an operation of the machine withthe admission of each coin; and fth, it permits the coins to be removedfrom the exhibiting position without further operation of the machine.

While the machine described herein may be manipulated under certainconditions so as to introduce a number of coins into the coin trap 1 I,at one time, no coin can be passed therefrom to the chute 15 Where it isheld in exhibiting position behind the opening 1S without producing anoperation of the wheel l0. In fact it is the operation itself of thewheel I8 which controls the transfer of the coin from the trap|1| to thechute 15.

It is to be further observed that it is virtually impossible for coinstojam in the coin detecting and handling mechanism because the coinscontinually are conducted into larger and larger spaces. Thusfor exampl,if a player should insert a coin into the position in which it is shownin Fig. 6 and then should operate the handle,

(not shown) suiciently to transfer the coin into f the coin trap 1I.where it rests on the pin 12', the latch piece 4l will disengage thenotch 39 of the spreader 29 so as to leave the snap mechanism free tooperate. Assume that under this condition, the arm 22 (shown in Fig. 2)has not moved down sufliciently far to cause operation of the followerarm 28 of the snap mechanism. Now if the handle is released, the arm 22will return to the position in which it is shown in Fig. 2 and the slide51 will return to its normal position in which it is shown in Fig. 6.Incidentally, the slide 58 will not return all the way to its normalposition because the edge of the latch piece 4l (the right edge as seenin Fig. 1) will stop against the dat surface of the spreader 29 (theleft side as seen in Fig. 1), so that the projection I8! of the latchpiece 4I will prevent the spreader 29 from assuming its erect position,(as seen in Fig. 2) all as previously has been described.

Inasmuch as the slide 51 has returned to its normal position, theprojection 65 will have moved out from under the opening 52 toadmitanother coin. Now if the handle again is operated a distance justsuicient to introduce the second coin into the coin trap 1l, the handlemay be returned again to-its normal position so as to leave the twocoins in the coin trap 1l resting on the pin 12. This can continue untilthe trap 1I is filled and will admit no more coins. Thereafter operationof the slide 51 with a coin in place in the position in which it isshown in Fig. 6, will merely cause the slide 58 to move slightly fartherto the right than it would if the coin were free to enter the trap i I.Itis thus seen that when the trap H becomes full it merely p-revents'any further coins from being ejected from the lchannel containing theslides 57 and 58 with the result that the space between the slides williill and will prevent further introduction of coins into the apparatus.

Now if the operating handle is actuated throughout its full travel, thearm 28 (See Fig. 2) will snap down to spin the wheel I Il and to actuatethe arm @I so as to withdraw the pin 'I2 from the coin trap 1l. Thispermits the coins to Ydrop into the chute 15, the chute 'I5 being in theposition in which it is shown in Fig. 5. Under this condition, the chutepresents a tapered passage for the coins and they may not empty the trap1I completely. They may even jam Where the passageway bends and tapersdown so as to prevent any coin from coming into position behind thewindow 76. This congestion at this point does no harm and it will clearitself after the hand lever is released or in response to furtheroperation of the machine. When the handle is released, the apparatusreturns to its normal position in the manner already described withoutactuating the chute 15. The handle now may be operated to open the chute'i5 and any coins which are not caught between the pin 'I2 and the panelI4 will drop immediately into the coin box 19. Any coins which mayhappen to be caught between the pin 'I2 and the panel I6 will be grippedonly by the pressure of the spring 93. The arm 9'! is substantiallynonresilient and therefore a slight jar of the apparatus, will cause thepin 'I2 to slightly release its grip of the coins so caught. Repeatedjars such as those produced by striking the case with the hand or b-yoperating the machine, will permit the coins to creep down and escapeinto the chute I5 from which they may be discharged into the coin pan.If the congestion in the coin trap 'II has caused any coins to be leftin the space between the slides 51 and 58 their presence there willpermit the apparatus to be actuated again in the normal manner.

If no attempt is made to remove coins from the coin trap 'II which mayhave caught between the end of the pin I2 and the panel I4, these willbe given an opportunity to escape at the next operation of the followerarm 28 of the snap mechanism. The machine may not clear itself in oneoperation of the handle but it will always clear any congestion afterseveral repeated operations.

It is to be observed that when the coin chute 15 is permitted to open byswinging away from the panel i4, it swings back to entirely clear thelower opening of the coin trap I I. The drawings do not illustrate chute'i5 in its fully open position. Fig. 4 shows it in the position which itassumes when hanging free. The weight of one or tional coin in orderthat the slide 58 may operate the latch piece III to release the snapmechanism.

Referring now to the latch and snap mechanisms shown in Figure 2, it isnot necessary to employ both spreaders 234 and 29 to produce the alwaystends to assume a position which is sub-Y stantially perpendicular tothe line between the pins 24 and 3U. Thus, so far as the operation ofthelatching mechanism is concerned, spreader 23 could be eliminated randthe springs 3l and 38` attached directly to the pin` 24.

While we have shown and described a single specic embodiment of ourpresent invention, it will be rapparent to those skilled in the art thatthe same isv by way of illustration only, and that the invention iscapable of numerous modiiications and variations. Therefore, We do notwish to be limited except by the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In combination in a device of the class described, means dening aconduit for a coin, said conduit having an entrance openingftherein foradmitting said coin and having an exit opening therein for permittingthe eXit of said coin, a coin driving member in said conduit adapted topro-pel a coin therethrough, a coin driven member in said conduitadapted to be driven by a coin propelled by said coin driving member,said exit opening being normally obstructed by said coin driven member,said coin driven member being adapted to un-cover said exit opening inresponse to being driven by the coin, a handle for operating said coindriving member, a wheel adapted to v mechanism so as to prevent anactuation thereof,v

said latch being adapted to be moved to release the driving means ofsaid wheel when said coin driven member is driven by a coin.

2. In combination in an apparatus of the class described, means deninga'channel having an entrance aperture therein for the entrance ofa coinand an exit aperture oli-set in the longitudinal direction of saidchannel from the entrance aperture for the exit of said coin, a coindriving slide in said channel adapted to propel a coin through saidchannel lfrom a position opposite the entrance aperture to a positionopposite the exit aperture, a coin driven slide in said channel, meansincluding a spring for defining a normal position of said coindrivenslide such that said coin driven slide normally obstructs saidexit aperture, said coin driven slide being adapted to be driven by acoin propelled by said coin driving slide so as to un-cover said exitaperture, the driving and driven surfaces respectively of said slidesbeing converging so that the resultant of their opposing forces directedagainst the coin in the channel urges the coin through said exitaperture, a rotatable wheel, means for driving said wheel including asnap mechanism which comprises a pivoted actuator arm, a pivotedfollower arm and a spring connected between said arms, a single handlefor operating both said coin driving slide and the actuator arm of saidsnap mechanism, a latch for normally restraining said follower arm toprevent operation .of said snap -mechanism, and means inter-connectingsaid coin driven member and said latchfor causing said coin drivenmember when propelled by a coin to disengage said latch.

3. In combination in a device of the class described, the coin conduit,coin controlled mechanism therein, a rotatable wheel, a snap mechanismfor driving said wheel, said snap mechanism comprising an actuator arm,a follower arm and a spring connected between said arms, a latch forrestraining the motion of said follower arm so as to prevent operationof said snap mechanism, a handle for operating said actuator arm andmeans operated by said handle under control of said coin controlledmechanism for releasing said latch.

4. In combination in a device of the class described, a wheel adapted tobe rotated, a snap actuator arm, a snap follower arm, means connectingsaid follower arm and said wheel adapted to transmit torque from saidfollower arm to said wheel for only one direction of rotation of saidfollower arm, spring connections between said snap actuator arm and saidfollower arm, said connections including a first latch piece pivoted tosaid follower arm and adapted to tend to assume a fixed orientation withrespect to a line through the points of fastening of said springconnections to said actuator and follower arms respectively and a secondlatch piece adapted to engage said first latch piece to preventoperation of said follower arm.

5. In combination in a device of the class described, a rotatable wheel,a snap mechanism comprising an actuator arm, a follower arm and springmeans connected between said arms, driving means connecting saidfollower arm to said wheel, said driving means being adapted to drivesaid wheel from said follower arm in response to only one direction ofrotation of said follower arm, said actuator and follower arms havingspring fastening points thereon, said spring means comprising a spreaderpivoted to said follower arm at the spring fastening point thereof andcomprising also springs connected between said spreader and the springfastening point of said actuator arm, said springs being adapted to tendto hold said spreader in a fixed orientation with respect to a lineextending through the spring fastening points of said actuator andfollower arms, said spreader having a latch portion disposedapproximately on a line running from said spring fastening point of thefollower arm perpendicular to the line through the two spring fasteningpoints and lying substantially in the plane of the arcuate motion ofsaid follower arm, said latch portion of said spreader lying also in adirection from the spring fastening point of said follower which isopposite to the direction in which said spring fastening point moves outof its normal position, and a latch piece adapted to be engaged by saidlatch portion of said spreader when said follower arm lies in its normalposition.

6. In combination in an apparatus of the class described, a coinconduit, coin controlled means therein, a coin trap adapted to receive acoin from said coin controlled means, said coin trap providing twopositions in which to hold the coin, a wheel adapted to be rotated,means for rotating said wheel comprising an actuator arm, a follower armand spring connections between said arms, a latch for holding saidfollower arm and adapted to be released by said coin controlled means inresponse to an actuation of said actuating arm when a coin is in saidconduit, said coin controlled means being adapted to deliver said cointo the first position of said coin trap substantially simultaneouslywith the release of said latch, and means responsive to the operation ofsaid follower arm for causing a coin to move from the first to thesecond position of said coin trap.

7. In combination in an apparatus of the class described, a handlehaving a normal position, coin controlled means adapted to receive acoin, a coin trap adapted to receive a coin from said coin controlledmeans, said coin trap providing two positions in which to hold the coin,first means for retaining a coin in the first position in said trap,second means for holding a coin in the second position of said trap, awheel adapted to be rotated, means for rotating said wheel comprising anactuator arm operated by an actuation of said handle, and comprisingalso a follower arm and spring connections between said arms, a latchfor holding said follower arm and adapted to release the same undercontrolof said coin controlled means in response to an actuation of saidhandle as aforesaid when a coin is in said coin controlled means, saidcoin controlled means being adapted to deliver a coin to the firstposition of said coin trap substantially simultaneously with the releaseof said latch, means actuated by an operation of said follower arm forsubstantially simultaneously withdrawing said first means from coinholding position and moving said second means into coin holdingposition, and means operated by said handle for moving said second meansinto coin holding position in response to the return of said handle toits normal position.

8. In combination in an apparatus of the class described, a coin conduithaving an entrance aperture therein for admitting a coin and having anexit aperture therein for permitting the exit of a coin, said exitaperture being offset from said entrance aperture in the longitudinaldirection of said conduit, a coin driving slide in said conduit adaptedto propel a coin through said conduit from a position opposite saidentrance aperture to a position opposite said exit aperture and in sodoing to move itself into position to obstruct said entrance aperture,means including a spring for defining a normal position of said coindriving slide such that said entrance aperture is unobstructed, a coindriven slide in said conduit, adapted to be driven by a coin propelledby said coin driving slide, means including a spring for defining anormal position of said coin driven slide, said coin driven slide beingadapted to obstruct said exit opening when in its normal position and tomove out of said normal position to uncover said exit aperture whendriven by a coin, said slides being adapted to eject a coin from saidconduit through said exit aperture, a rotatable wheel, an actuator armhaving a spring fastening point, a follower arm having a springfastening point, means for driving said follower arm from said actuatorarm and for defining normal positions of said actuator and follower armsincluding spring means acting between said spring fastening points, saidspring means including a spring and a member adapted to tend to assume afixed orientation with respect to a straight line through said springfastening points, a latch engaging said member for retaining saidfollower arm in its normal position, said latch being adapted to bedisengaged by said coin driven member when said coin driven member isdriven by a coin out of its normal position, driving means adapted torotate said wheel when said follower arm moves out of its normalposition, a coin trap adapted to receive a coin said second coin holdingposition When saidactuator arm is in itsrnormal position and also whensaid follower arm is out of its normal po sition a latch for catchingand holding said coin driving slide in position to obstruct the entranceaperture of said conduit when said foilower arm is out of its normalposition.

WALTER VAN GUILDER. KARL H. SOMMERMEYER.

